What About the Flat? You Promised Me! You’re Ruining My Life!

Author Walton MerrittReading 3 minViews 1

What about the flat? You promised me! Youre ruining my life!

My husband and I were over the moon when we discovered that our son was getting married. Before the wedding, we quietly told Henry that we intended to buy him a flat as a wedding present. He was absolutely thrilled when he heard what wed planned. Word soon got around to all his mates.

While we were bustling about with wedding preparations, disaster struck quite suddenly.

Our daughter, Alice, was taken to hospital directly from work, having fallen terribly ill without warning. My husband and I rushed to her side immediately. The doctors ran a series of tests, which showed she had a tumour and needed urgent surgery. Of course, that meant we had to come up with a substantial amount of moneyand fast. Thank goodness wed caught it in time.

Buying a flat for our son wasnt even an option under the circumstances. All our focus turned to raising the funds for Alices treatment. We were truly fortunate to have our family and friends rally round us; not a single one could turn a blind eye to our plight. Everyone pitched in as much as they couldsome even gave us money and insisted we neednt pay it back. Somehow, together, we managed to gather what was needed for the operation.

Then our son stunned us with what he said.

What about my flat? You promised me! Youre ruining my life.

When Henry uttered those words, I honestly felt faint. How could he say something so heartless? How could he be so wrapped up in himself? This was his own sister, after all. Theyd grown up side by side. I couldnt believe he was putting his wedding and his sisters lifesaving surgery on equal footing. I was speechless. But Henry wasnt about to let things lie.

Why does she get everything and I get nothing?

At that point, I simply lost it and ended up shouting at him. I told him I didnt want to see his face again. He packed his things and moved in with his fiancée. We didnt speak for a fortnight.

During that time, my daughter underwent surgery. Thankfully, it all went well. Some weeks later, Alice came home from hospital. I never breathed a word to her about Henrys behaviour. Its all simply too shameful. There was no sense making her upset as well. And our son? He never once rang during that timenot even to ask how his sister was faring. By all appearances, owning a flat matters to him more than family ties.

“When Was the Last Time You Looked at Yourself in the Mirror?” Her Husband Asked—But His Wife’s Unexpected Reaction Changed Everything Alex finished his morning coffee, half-watching Marina. Her hair pulled back in a child’s scrunchie—little cartoon cats. But Kseniya from next door? Always bright, fresh, smelling of expensive perfume that lingered in the lift after she left. “You know,” Alex put aside his phone, “sometimes I think we live like… well, like neighbours.” Marina stopped, cloth frozen in her hand. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Oh, nothing. Just… when was the last time you looked in the mirror?” She looked at him, carefully. Alex felt things were going off script. “When was the last time you really looked at me?” Marina asked softly. Awkward silence. “Come on, Marina, don’t be dramatic. I’m just saying—a woman should look her best. Simple as that! Look at Kseniya, and she’s your age.” “Ah,” said Marina. “Kseniya.” Something changed in her voice—a revelation. “Alex,” she said after a pause, “you know what? I’ll stay with Mum for a bit. Have a think about what you said.” “Fine. Let’s live apart for now, think it over. But I’m not kicking you out!” “You know,” she hung the cloth up with care, “maybe I really do need to look in the mirror.” She went to pack her suitcase. Alex sat in the kitchen thinking, “Damn, isn’t this what I wanted?” Only, it didn’t feel like victory—just emptiness. Three days passed like a holiday. Coffee in the morning, evenings as he pleased. No romantic dramas streaming on TV. Freedom, right? Long-awaited manly freedom. One evening, Alex saw Kseniya at the entrance, hauling gourmet grocery bags, heels clicking, dress fitting perfectly. “Alex!” she smiled. “How are you? Haven’t seen Marina in ages.” “She’s at her mum’s. Resting,” he lied. “Ah.” Kseniya nodded knowingly. “You know, women need a break sometimes. From the routine, the housework.” She said it as if she’d never met a dust bunny—her dinner probably materialised at the snap of her fingers. “Ksenia, maybe coffee sometime? Neighbour-to-neighbour?” Alex blurted. “Why not?” she smiled. “Tomorrow evening?” That night, Alex planned his outfit—shirt or polo, jeans or trousers, not too much aftershave. Next morning, the phone rang. “Alex? It’s Mrs Vasilyeva, Marina’s mum.” His heart skipped. “Marina asked me to tell you: she’ll collect her things Saturday when you’re out. She’ll leave the keys with the concierge.” “Wait—collect her things?” “What did you expect?” her voice was steel. “My daughter won’t spend her life waiting for you to decide if she matters.” “I didn’t mean it like that—” “You said enough. Goodbye, Alex.” She hung up. Alex sat in the kitchen, staring at his phone. What the hell? He wasn’t divorcing—just asking for a pause, time to think. But apparently his family decided for him. Coffee with Kseniya felt odd. She was pleasant, stories about banking, laughed at his jokes. But when he reached for her hand, she gently drew away. “Alex, you know—I can’t. You’re still married.” “But we’re… living apart.” “Today, maybe. What about tomorrow?” Kseniya eyed him carefully. Alex walked her to the door, then upstairs. His flat greeted him with silence and the scent of bachelorhood. Saturday. Alex left home—no scenes, no tears, let her take the stuff in peace. But by three in the afternoon, curiosity gnawed at him. What did she take? Everything? Or just essentials? By four, he couldn’t stand it. He headed home. In front of the building—a car with local plates. At the wheel, a stranger, about forty, well-dressed, helping someone load boxes. Alex perched on the bench and waited. Ten minutes later, out came a woman in a blue dress. Dark hair, not a cartoon scrunchie but a stylish clip. Subtle makeup, made her eyes pop. Alex stared—was this Marina? His Marina—only not. She carried the last bag, and the man quickly helped her, like handling crystal. Alex couldn’t hold back. He walked over. “Marina!” She turned. Her face was calm, beautiful—no trace of the exhaustion he’d grown used to. “Hi, Alex.” “Is that… you?” The driver tensed, but Marina eased his arm—don’t worry. “It’s me,” she said simply. “You just stopped seeing me a long time ago.” “Marina, wait—can’t we talk?” “About what?” No anger, just surprise. “You said a woman should always look stunning. I listened.” “But, I didn’t mean it like that!” Alex’s heart thumped. “So what did you mean, Alex?” Marina tilted her head. “You wanted me beautiful—but only for you? Interesting—but only at home? To love myself, but not so much that I could leave a husband who doesn’t see me?” He listened and every word turned something inside him. “You know,” she continued gently, “I realised I had stopped taking care of myself. Not out of laziness, but because I’d become invisible. In my own home, my own life.” “Marina, I didn’t want—” “Oh, you did. You wanted a wife-invisible, who does everything but doesn’t disturb your life. And when you get bored—you can upgrade to a flashier model.” The man in the car said something quietly. Marina nodded. “We should go,” she told Alex. “Vladimir’s waiting.” “Vladimir?” Alex’s mouth went dry. “Who’s he?” “A man who sees me,” Marina answered. “Met him at the gym. There’s a new fitness centre near mum’s. Can you believe—it took me forty-two years to start working out for the first time?” “Marina, don’t—let’s try again. I get it, I was a fool.” “Alex,” she looked at him closely, “do you remember the last time you told me I was beautiful?” He couldn’t. “Or asked about my day?” Alex realised—he’d lost. Not to Vladimir or circumstance. To himself. Vladimir started the engine. “Alex, I’m not angry. Truly. You helped me learn something valuable: if I don’t see myself, no one else will.” The car pulled away. Alex stood by the entrance, watching his life drive off. Not his wife—his life. Fifteen years of “routine”, he thought. And only now did he realise it had been happiness. Only he’d never noticed. Half a year later, Alex bumped into Marina at the mall, by the coffee shelf. She was reading labels, suntanned, light blouse, new haircut. Next to her, a twenty-something girl. “Try this one,” she said. “Dad says arabica is better than robusta.” “Marina?” Alex approached. She turned, smiled—easy, relaxed. “Hi, Alex. Meet Nastya, Vladimir’s daughter. Nastya, this is Alex, my ex-husband.” Nastya nodded politely—pretty, probably a student, watching with curiosity, not hostility. “How are you?” he said. “Good. You?” “Alright.” Awkward pause. What do you say to your ex-wife, who’s changed so much? They stood by the coffee shelves. Alex looked at her—happy, truly happy. “And you?” she asked. “How’s your love life?” “Nothing special,” he admitted. Marina studied him. “You know, Alex—you want a woman as beautiful as Kseniya, as obedient as I was. Clever, but not so clever she catches you eyeing others.” Nastya listened, eyes wide. “That woman doesn’t exist,” Marina finished gently. “Nastya, let’s go?” the girl said. “Dad’s waiting in the car.” “Yes, of course.” Marina grabbed a pack of coffee. “Good luck, Alex.” They left. Alex stood among the shelves, thinking—she was right. He was chasing a woman who didn’t exist. That evening, Alex sat in his kitchen, sipping tea, thinking of Marina, how she’d changed. Sometimes, losing something is the only way to see its true value. Maybe happiness isn’t about searching for a convenient wife, but learning to truly see the woman standing beside you.

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— There’s No Need for You to Sit at the Table. You Should Be Serving Us! — Declared My Mother-in-Law. I Stood by the Stove in the Quiet Morning Kitchen — Wearing a Wrinkled Pyjama and a Messy Bun. The Air Smelled of Toast and Strong Coffee. My 7-Year-Old Daughter Sat on a Stool Beside the Table, Nose Buried in Her Sketchbook, Carefully Drawing Colourful Swirls with Felt-Tip Pens. — Are You Making Those Diet Toasts Again? — Came a Voice Behind Me. I Jumped. At the Door Stood My Mother-in-Law — A Stern-Faced Woman with a Voice That Allowed No Argument. She Was in Her Dressing Gown, Hair Pulled Back Tight, Lips Pursed. — By the Way, Yesterday I Ate Whatever I Could Find! — She Continued, Smacking a Tea Towel Against the Table Edge. — No Soup, No Proper Food. Can You Make Eggs? Properly, Not with Your… Fancy Modern Ideas! I Switched Off the Hob and Opened the Fridge. A Tight Spiral of Anger Swirled in My Chest, but I Swallowed It. Not in Front of My Child. And Not in a Place Where Every Inch Seemed to Whisper, ‘You’re Only Here Temporarily.’ — I’ll Sort It Now — I Said, Struggling Not to Let My Voice Tremble. My Daughter Didn’t Look Up from Her Pens, but Kept a Careful Eye on Her Grandma — Quiet, Small, Alert. ‘We’ll Stay with My Mum for a Bit’ When My Husband Suggested Moving in with his Mum, It Sounded Sensible Enough. — We’ll Stay at Mum’s — Just for a Little While. Two Months, Tops. It’s Close to Work and Our Mortgage Will Be Approved Soon. She Doesn’t Mind. I Hesitated. Not Because I Was at Odds with My Mother-in-Law. No. We Were Always Polite. But Deep Down I Knew the Truth: Two Adult Women in One Kitchen — That’s a Minefield. And My Mother-in-Law Was Someone Who Needed Order, Control, and Moral Judgements Like Oxygen. But There Was Little Choice. Our Old Flat Sold Quickly, the New One Wasn’t Ready, So the Three of Us Moved into My Mother-in-Law’s Two-Bedroom Flat. ‘Just Temporarily.’ Daily Life Became All About Control The First Few Days Passed Quietly. My Mother-in-Law Was Particularly Polite — Even Put an Extra Chair Out for My Daughter and Served Us Pie. But By Day Three, the ‘Rules’ Started. — There’s Order in My House — She Declared Over Breakfast. — Up at Eight. Shoes Only on the Rack. Food Must Be Agreed on. TV Down Low, I’m Sensitive to Noise. My Husband Smiled and Waved It Off: — Mum, It’s Just for a Bit. We Can Cope. I Nodded Silently. But ‘We Can Cope’ Began to Sound More like a Sentence. I Began to Disappear A Week Went By. Then Another. The Regime Got Tighter. My Mother-in-Law Removed My Child’s Drawings from the Table: — They’re in the Way. She Took Off the Checked Tablecloth I’d Put On: — Impractical. My Cereal Vanished from the Shelf: — Been There Ages — Must Be Off. She ‘Moved’ My Shampoos: — Don’t Want Them Lying About. I Didn’t Feel Like a Guest, but Someone with No Voice, No Right to an Opinion. My Food Was ‘Wrong.’ My Habits — ‘Unnecessary.’ My Child — ‘Too Noisy.’ And My Husband Kept Saying the Same Thing: — Just Bear with It. This Is Mum’s Place. She’s Always Been Like This. Day by Day, I Was Losing Myself. Less and Less Remained of the Woman Who Was Once Calm and Confident. Now It Was Just Endless Adjusting and Enduring. A Life Ruled by Rules That Weren’t Mine Every Morning I’d Get Up at Six Just to Get to the Bathroom First, Cook Porridge, Rush to Get My Daughter Ready… and Avoid My Mother-in-Law’s Criticism. Each Evening I’d Make Two Dinners. One for Us. And One to Her Standards. No Onion. Then With Onion. Then Only Using Her Saucepan. Then Only Using Her Frying Pan. — I Don’t Ask for Much — She’d Say Disapprovingly. — Just Cook Properly. The Way It Should Be. The Day the Humiliation Became Public One Morning I’d Just Washed My Face and Turned On the Kettle When My Mother-in-Law Walked into the Kitchen, as if It Was Perfectly Normal. — My Friends Are Coming Over Today. At Two. You’re Home, So You’ll Prepare the Table. Pickles, Salad, Something with Tea — Nothing Special. ‘Nothing Special’ Always Meant a Feast with Her. — Oh… I Didn’t Know. Ingredients… — You’ll Buy Them. I Made a List. Nothing Difficult. So I Got Dressed and Went to the Shop. Bought Everything: Chicken, Potatoes, Dill, Apples for Pie, Biscuits… Came Back and Started Cooking Non-Stop. By Two Everything Was Ready: Table Set, Chicken Roasted, Salad Fresh, Pie Golden. Along Came Three Retired Ladies — Neat Hairstyles and Perfume from Another Era. And Straight Away, I Knew I Wasn’t ‘One of the Group.’ I Was the ‘Waitress.’ — Come Here, Sit by Us — Smiled My Mother-in-Law. — You’ll Serve Us. — Serve You? — I Echoed. — What’s the Problem? We’re All Older. It’s Not Hard for You. So There I Was: Carrying Trays, Spoons, Bread. ‘Give Me Some Tea.’ ‘Pass the Sugar.’ ‘Salad’s Gone.’ — The Chicken’s a Bit Dry — Complained One. — You Overdid the Pie — Said Another. I Grinned and Bore It. Cleared Plates. Poured Tea. No One Asked If I’d Like to Sit Down. Or Take a Breather. — Isn’t It Nice Having a Young Housewife Around? — My Mother-in-Law Declared with Mock Warmth. — Everything Depends on Her! And Then… Something Inside Me Finally Snapped. That Night, I Told the Truth When the Guests Left, I Washed Up, Packed Away Leftovers, Washed the Tablecloth. Then Sat on the Edge of the Sofa with an Empty Mug. Outside, It Was Getting Dark. My Daughter Slept Curled Up on the Bed. My Husband Was Next to Me — Lost in His Phone. — Listen… — I Said Quiet but Firm. — I Can’t Do This Anymore. He Looked Up, Surprised. — We Live like Strangers. I Feel like I’m Just Here to Serve Everyone. And You… Do You Even See This? He Didn’t Reply. — This Isn’t a Home. It’s a Life Where I’m Constantly Adjusting and Silent. The Child and I Are Both Stuck Here. I’m Done with Being Convenient and Invisible. He Nodded… Slowly. — I Get It… Sorry I Didn’t See It Sooner. We’ll Find a Flat. Doesn’t Matter What — As Long as It’s Ours. We Started Searching That Night. Our Home — Small but Ours The New Flat Was Tiny. The Landlord Had Left Old Furniture. The Linoleum Squeaked. But When I Stepped Over the Doorstep… I Felt Light. Like I’d Finally Found My Voice Again. — Here We Are — My Husband Sighed, Setting Down the Bags. My Mother-in-Law Didn’t Say a Word. She Didn’t Even Try to Stop Us. I Didn’t Know If She Was Hurt, or Just Realised She’d Gone Too Far. A Week Passed. Mornings Began with Music. My Child Drew on the Floor. My Husband Made Coffee. And I Watched and Smiled. No Stress. No Rushing. No ‘Just Bear with It.’ — Thank You — He Said One Morning, Hugging Me. — For Speaking Up. I Looked Him in the Eyes: — Thank You for Hearing Me. Life Wasn’t Perfect Now. But This Was Our Home. With Our Rules. Our Noise. Our Life. And It Was Real. ❓ What about you — If You Were in This Woman’s Shoes, Would You Last ‘Just for a Little While,’ or Would You Have Walked Out in the First Week?

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I Gave My Surname to Her Children—Now I’m Legally Obliged to Support Them While She Lives Happily Ever After with Their Biological Dad How I Went from “Fun Guy” to the Official Cash Machine for Two Kids Who Only Message Me When They Need Money for the Cinema but Ignore Me at Christmas It all started three years ago when I met Marianne—an amazing woman, recently divorced, with two children aged 8 and 10. I fell head over heels, totally smitten. She’d constantly say, “The kids adore you!” And like a proper fool, I believed her. Of course they loved me—I took them to theme parks every weekend. One day, during one of those life-altering conversations, Marianne says: “It makes me so sad that the kids don’t share their father’s surname. He never officially acknowledged them.” So, in a moment of dazzling (and sarcastic) brilliance, I replied: “Well… I could adopt them. Honestly, they already feel like my own.” You know that bit in films where time freezes and a voiceover says, “That’s when I knew it would end badly”? I didn’t get that warning. I should have. Marianne broke down in happy tears. The kids hugged me. I felt like a hero—a foolish hero, but a hero nonetheless. We went through it all—lawyers, paperwork, judges. The kids officially became Sebastian Rogers and Camilla Rogers—MY surname. I was happy. Marianne was happy. We even held a “family ceremony” with a cake. Six months later. SIX. Marianne tells me: “We need to talk… I don’t know how to say this, but… Mike is back.” “Who’s Mike?” I ask, already knowing. “The kids’ biological father. He’s changed. He’s grown up. He wants his family back.” I was dumbstruck—literally speechless. “What are you going to do?” I asked. “I’ll give him a chance. For the children, you understand?” Of course, I understood. It was as if someone pointed me to the exit with a neon sign. “Marianne, I ADOPTED them. They are legally my children.” “Yes, yes… we’ll sort that out later. The most important thing now is that the children have a dad.” “We’ll sort it out later.” Like it’s a gas bill. I visited my solicitor. The man nearly choked on his coffee. “You’ve signed up for full adoption?” “Yes.” “Then you’re their father. Completely responsible—maintenance, school, healthcare. Everything.” “But I’m no longer with their mum…” “Makes no difference. You’re the dad. That’s how the law works.” And here I am—paying child support to Marianne, who now happily lives with Mike in MY flat. Because “the children need stability and shouldn’t have to move.” MY flat. Paid for by me. I had to move out, because apparently it would be “too traumatic for the children” if I stayed. The most absurd part? Mike—the ghost dad who never contributed a penny—is now taking them to the park, to football, and playing the family hero. And every month I get a polite email from Marianne’s solicitor: “Maintenance received: £XXX.” Complete with a sad emoji. That doesn’t help. Last month Sebastian messaged me: “Hi, could you transfer a bit more? I want new trainers.” “Can’t Mike get them for you?” “He said you’re my legal dad. He’s just my dad at heart.” Dad at heart. How convenient. I’m the dad via HSBC. Adoption’s almost impossible to reverse. The court would probably see me as the baddie who wants to “abandon his children.” Even my mates have stopped pitying me. “Mate, at what point did you think this was a good idea?” “I was in love.” “Falling in love doesn’t mean you switch your brain off completely.” And he’s right. Now, when I see a couple where the kids aren’t his, I want to shout: “DON’T SIGN ANYTHING! Be the fun uncle, the boyfriend, whatever you want—just DON’T SIGN!” My mum only said, “Love made you stupid,” and hugged me in a way that hurt even more. Yesterday, yet again: “Unexpected expense: school materials – £XXX” Unexpected. As if school isn’t every year. Meanwhile, Marianne posts photos of her “happy family.” The kids—bearing MY surname—smiling beside the man who abandoned them. The grand finale? Camilla (10, yes, she has Instagram…) wrote in her bio: “Daughter of Marianne and Mike ❤️” My name? Nowhere. I’m the anonymous sponsor to their lives. So here I am—£500 a month lighter, two “kids” who only message when they want money, and fully aware that I made the biggest mistake of my life, all for love. The only upside is that when people ask if I have children, I can say “yes” and regale everyone at dinner with this story. Everyone laughs. Except me. I only laugh on the outside. And you? Have you ever signed something “for love” that ended up costing you dearly… or am I the only genius who gave away his surname and bank account in a buy-one-get-one-free promotion?

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My Mother-in-law Used to Mock My Mum for Cleaning Other People’s Homes — Now She Cleans in Mine I’ll never forget the first time I brought my husband to my parents’ house. Mum had made her famous roast, and I was nervous as a teenager on a first date. But not because of my own parents… it was his mum I worried about. “So, dear, what do you do?” my mother asked, setting out the salad. “He’s an engineer. Works for a big construction company.” What I didn’t say was that his mother never missed a chance to remind me where I came from. The first time I visited her home three years ago, she welcomed me with a fake smile—impeccable suit, pearls, furniture that screamed ‘money.’ “My son said your mother works as a cleaner,” she said over tea. The way she said ‘works as a cleaner’ sounded like ‘robs banks.’ “Yes. She’s an honest, hardworking woman.” “Of course… honest work is always dignified,” she replied, but her tone said otherwise. “Although one always wants more for their children… education, a profession…” “I’m studying at university. Administration.” “And who pays for your tuition? Because with your mother’s income…” That was when he spoke up. For the first time. “She’s on a scholarship. One of the best in her class.” But the message was clear. The next few years—humiliation, drop by drop. “At least you can collect the dishes, you’ve got more experience,” she’d toss at family gatherings. “Funny how a girl from your background is so picky about food.” “He could have married a doctor’s daughter…” My mother would say: “Don’t pay them any mind. People like that never change.” But I changed. Graduated at the top of my class. Landed an excellent job at an international company. We got married. And she stood at our wedding with a face like she was at a funeral—no right to object. Then life dealt its own cards. Her husband’s business failed. They lost everything—house, cars, status. Moved to a small flat. Her pride crumbled alongside her bank account. My career, meanwhile, soared. I became a regional manager. We bought a beautiful house. One day, my husband looked at me, worried: “My parents are struggling. Mum’s depressed. Do you think…?” “To come live with us?” I finished. I could have said no. I had every reason. But I remembered my mum—how she cleaned other people’s homes with dignity and came home tired but still smiling. “Let them come,” I said. When she entered our home, something in her broke. I saw it in her eyes—the space, the light, the calm. “It’s beautiful…” she whispered. “This is your home too,” I replied. At first, she was withdrawn. Then one morning, I found her in the kitchen, cleaning. “You don’t have to,” I said. She turned, tears in her eyes. “I was cruel. To you. To your mother. And now… I understand. Dignity isn’t about the work, it’s about how you do it. About loving your family.” We hugged. Now she cooks with my mum. They laugh together. She plays with my children. Yesterday, as we folded laundry, she said: “I used to mock your mum for cleaning houses. Now I clean here, and it’s the most dignified work I’ve ever done—because I do it with gratitude.” “You’re not cleaning my house,” I said quietly. “You’re home.” Life has a strange way of teaching us the lessons we most need. Has forgiveness ever freed you from a deep hurt—making you realize the liberation was yours all along?

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“When Was the Last Time You Actually Looked at Yourself in the Mirror?” Her Husband Asked—But His Wife’s Surprising Response Changed Everything Alex sipped his morning coffee, watching Marina out of the corner of his eye. Her hair was pulled back with a rubber band—one for little girls, with cartoon cats. But their neighbour, Sophie from next door, always seemed vibrant and fresh, with that lingering scent of expensive perfume that filled the lift long after she’d left. “You know,” Alex put his phone down, “sometimes I think we live like… well, like neighbours.” Marina paused mid-cleaning, the cloth frozen in her hand. “What do you mean?” “Nothing special. Just… when was the last time you looked in the mirror?” That’s when she looked at him. Really looked. And Alex suddenly realised things weren’t going as he’d hoped. “When was the last time you looked at me?” Marina asked softly. An awkward silence hung between them. “Marina, don’t be dramatic. I just mean—women should always look amazing. It’s basic! Look at Sophie—she’s your age.” “Ah… Sophie,” Marina said. And something in her voice made Alex wary, like she’d just realised something important. “Alex,” she said after a pause, “tell you what. I’m going to stay at Mum’s for a bit. Think about what you said.” “Sure. Let’s live separately for now, think things over. But remember, I’m not kicking you out!” “You know,” Marina hung the cloth up with care, “maybe I do need to look in the mirror.” And she started packing. Alex sat in the kitchen, thinking, “This is what I wanted.” But somehow, he didn’t feel happy at all—he felt strangely empty. For three days, Alex lived like he was on holiday. Lazy mornings with coffee, evenings doing whatever he liked. No romantic dramas on TV. Freedom—good old male freedom. He bumped into Sophie outside that evening. Shopping bags from Waitrose, heels, a perfectly fitted dress. “Alex!” she smiled. “How are you? Haven’t seen Marina lately.” “She’s at her mum’s for a break,” he lied. “Mmm,” Sophie nodded knowingly. “Sometimes women need a breather—from the housework, the routine.” She said it as if she’d never touched a duster in her life, as if dinner simply appeared in her kitchen. “Soph, maybe we should grab a coffee sometime—just as neighbours?” “Why not?” she smiled. “Tomorrow evening?” All night, Alex planned the date—shirt, jeans or trousers, which cologne won’t overpower. But the next morning, his phone rang. “Alex?” It was a new voice. “It’s Mrs Smith—Marina’s mum.” His heart skipped a beat. “Yes?” “Marina asked me to tell you: she’ll pick up her things on Saturday when you’re not home. She’ll leave the keys with the concierge.” “Hold on, what do you mean pick up her things?” “What did you expect?” Mrs Smith’s voice was steely. “My daughter’s not waiting her whole life for you to decide if she matters.” “I haven’t said anything like that.” “You’ve said plenty. Goodbye, Alex.” She hung up. Alex sat in the kitchen, staring at his phone. What the hell? He hadn’t divorced—he just asked for time. But they’d decided it all without him. The coffee with Sophie was awkward; she was friendly, chatted about banking, laughed at his jokes. But when he reached for her hand, she gently pulled away. “Alex, you know I can’t. You’re still married.” “But we’re living apart—” “For now. Tomorrow?” Sophie gave him a long look. He walked her home, then went up to his flat. It greeted him with a silence and the unmistakable scent of single life. Saturday. Alex made himself scarce—no scenes, tears, or explanations. Let her collect her things in peace. But by three, he was desperate to know: what had she taken? Everything or just the essentials? What did she look like? At four, he gave in and went home. Outside was a car with local plates. At the wheel—a man in his forties, smart, good jacket, loading boxes for someone. Alex waited on the bench. Ten minutes later, a woman in a blue dress emerged. Her dark hair was pulled back—not with a kiddie band, but a stylish clip. Subtle makeup made her eyes pop. Alex stared in disbelief. It was Marina. His Marina. But different. She carried her last bag, and the man hurried to help, carefully guiding her into the car as if she were made of glass. Alex couldn’t hold back. He strode to the car. “Marina!” She turned. Her face was serene—and beautiful. No trace of the constant exhaustion he’d come to expect. “Hi, Alex.” “Is that really you…?” The man behind the wheel tensed, but Marina touched his arm lightly—all fine. “Yes,” she said simply. “You just haven’t looked at me in a long time.” “Marina, wait. Can’t we talk?” “About what?” No anger in her voice—just quiet surprise. “You said women should look fabulous. So I listened.” “No, that’s not what I meant!” Alex’s heart nearly burst. “What were you hoping for, Alex?” Marina tilted her head. “That I’d become beautiful, but only for you? Be interesting, but only at home? Love myself, but not enough to leave a husband who doesn’t see me?” As she spoke, something turned over inside him. “You know,” Marina went on gently, “I realised—I really did stop taking care of myself. But not from laziness. I’d simply got used to being invisible. In my own home, my own life.” “Marina, I didn’t mean…” “Oh, but you did. You wanted an invisible wife—who does everything but never takes up space. And when you tire, you upgrade to a flashier model.” The man in the car said something quietly. Marina nodded. “We have to go,” she said. “Vaughan’s waiting.” “Vaughan?” Alex’s mouth went dry. “Who’s he?” “Someone who sees me,” Marina replied. “We met at the gym—Mum’s got a new fitness centre nearby. Imagine, I tried sport for the first time at forty-two.” “Marina, please. Let’s try again. I was an idiot.” “Alex,” she looked at him intently. “Can you remember the last time you told me I was beautiful?” He couldn’t. He just stood there. “Or asked how I was?” He realised then—he’d lost, not to Vaughan or circumstances, but to himself. The car started. “I’m not angry, Alex. Really. You helped me discover something: if I don’t see myself—nobody else will.” The car pulled away. Alex stood outside, watching his life drive off—not his wife, his life. Fifteen years he’d called routine, but now saw had been happiness. He’d just never noticed. Six months later, Alex bumped into Marina at the shopping centre. She was choosing coffee beans, reading labels intently. Next to her was a girl in her twenties. “Let’s get this one,” she said. “Dad says arabica is better than robusta.” “Marina?” Alex approached. She turned and smiled—softly, effortlessly. “Hi, Alex. This is Anna, Vaughan’s daughter. Anna, this is Alex, my ex-husband.” Anna nodded politely, a pretty uni student, watching Alex with curiosity but no hostility. “How are you?” he asked. “Fine. You?” “All right.” A brief, awkward silence. What do you say to an ex-wife who’s changed so much? They stood by the coffee shelves. Alex looked at her: tanned, in a light blouse, new haircut. Happy. Truly happy. “And you?” she asked. “How’s your love life?” “Nothing much,” he sighed. Marina looked carefully at him. “You want a woman who’s as pretty as Sophie, but as obedient as I was. Clever, but not so clever she notices you eyeing others.” Anna listened, eyes wide. “There’s no such woman, Alex,” Marina said calmly. “Marina, shall we?” Anna cut in. “Dad’s waiting in the car.” “Yes, coming.” Marina took the coffee. “Good luck, Alex.” They left. Alex stood amongst the shelves, thinking: she was right. He had been searching for a woman who didn’t exist. That evening, sat in his kitchen with a cup of tea, Alex thought of Marina—of who she’d become. And of how sometimes, losing someone is the only way to learn their true worth. Maybe happiness isn’t about finding a convenient wife. Maybe it’s about learning to truly see the woman beside you.

05

Even Thirty Years of Marriage Isn’t a Reason to Endure Cheating Helen turned a small jewellery box in her hands – the velvet was worn, the golden letters faded. Inside glimmered three tiny stones. Beautiful, she had to admit. “Five hundred quid,” said Oliver, scrolling through the news on his tablet. “Got it from Goldsmiths, with my discount card.” “Thank you, love.” Something clenched inside her. Not because of the price – what could she expect, at their age? It was the way he said it. So ordinary. As if he was reporting on buying milk. Thirty years together. Pearl anniversary – rare these days. Helen got up early, fetched the fancy lace tablecloth from the cupboard – a wedding gift from her mother-in-law. She started making Angel Cake – Oliver once called it “a slice of heaven.” Now he sat, hunched over his screen, grunting answers to her questions. “Ollie, do you remember how you promised to take me to Italy for our thirtieth?” “Mmm,” without looking up. “I thought maybe, at least, we could have a trip to Cornwall? We haven’t had a proper holiday together in ages.” “Helen, I’ve got a big project on. No time now.” Project. There was always some project. Especially these past eighteen months, since Oliver suddenly caught a case of “feeling young.” Signed up to the gym, bought expensive trainers, changed his wardrobe. Even his haircut was trendy – fringe to the side, buzzed temples. “Midlife crisis,” her friend Susan said. “All men go through it. You’ll see, it passes.” It didn’t. If anything, it got worse. Helen tried on the ring – a perfect fit. After all these years, he still remembered her size. The stones glittered with a cold shine. “Pretty,” she repeated, staring at the gift. “Yes. Trendy setting. Youthful design.” That evening, they sat quietly at the celebration table. The cake was, as always, soft and light. Oliver ate a slice, praised it automatically. Helen watched him, wondering when her husband had become a stranger to her. “So, who’s this girl?” she asked suddenly. “What girl?” Oliver looked up from his plate. “The one who helped you pick out the youthful ring.” “What’s she got to do with anything?” “Oliver,” her voice was calm. “I’m not a fool. A woman picked that ring. No man ever says ‘youthful design.’” Long pause. Awkward. “Helen, don’t be ridiculous.” “Is her name Alyssa?” Oliver paled. Didn’t even ask how she knew. She’d hit the mark. “I saw your messages by accident. Last month, when you asked me to find the insurance number on your phone. ‘Sunshine, I’ll see you soon’ – sound familiar?” He was silent. “Twenty-eight, works in your office. Yesterday she posted a photo from a restaurant – the window seat where you two sat. I recognised the tablecloth.” “How do you know about the restaurant?” “Susan saw you. By chance. You think people in town wouldn’t notice?” Oliver sighed heavily. “Alright. Yes, there’s Alyssa. But it’s not what you think.” “What is it, then?” “She understands me. With her, it’s easy, interesting. We talk about books, about films.” “And with me, there’s nothing to say?” “Helen, just look at yourself! You only talk about the kids, your health, how the groceries have gone up. With Alyssa I feel… alive.” “Alive,” Helen repeated. “I see.” “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Oliver dropped his head. “Does she know you’re married?” “She does.” “And she’s fine with that? Comfortable with dating a married man?” “Helen, she’s a modern girl. Doesn’t have illusions.” “Modern,” Helen scoffed. “So our thirty years together was an illusion too?” She stood to clear the table, hands trembling, though she tried not to show it. “Let’s talk properly,” Oliver pleaded from the kitchen door. “There’s nothing left to discuss. You’ve made your choice.” “I haven’t chosen anyone!” “You have. Every day, by coming home late. By lying about work trips. By buying her gifts with my money.” “Our money!” “Mine too. I work as well, remember?” Helen washed the dishes, carefully stacked them in the rack. Folded the fancy tablecloth and stowed it away. Everything as usual. Except her hands kept shaking. “What do you want, Helen?” Oliver asked, standing in the doorway. “I want to be alone. Tonight. To think.” “And tomorrow?” “I don’t know.” Two days she stayed silent. Oliver tried to talk, but got polite one-word replies. On the third day, he snapped. “How long is this going to go on?” “What are you unhappy about?” Helen asked as she ironed his shirt. “I cook, clean, wash up. Same as always.” “But you won’t talk to me!” “Why? You have Alyssa for conversations.” “Helen!” “What, ‘Helen’? You said it yourself – with me you’re bored, nothing to talk about. Why force it?” That evening, he left. Said he was going to see friends. Helen knew – he went to her. She sat at the computer, found Alyssa’s social media. Pretty. Young. Photos from luxury holidays, stylish clothes, champagne in hand. One post from yesterday: “Life is beautiful when you’re with someone who values you.” Hashtags: love, happiness, matureman. Mature man. Helen laughed. Like a product label. Girlfriends commented: “Alyssa, when’s the wedding?”, “Lucky you snagged such a guy!”, “What does his wife think?” Alyssa replied to the last: “Their marriage is just formality now. They live like housemates.” Thirty years – housemates. Next morning, Helen booked an appointment with a solicitor. Young chap in glasses listened carefully to her story. “I see. Joint assets are split fifty-fifty. House, cottage, car. If you can prove adultery, you might get a larger share.” “I don’t want a larger share,” Helen said. “Just what’s fair.” At home, she made a list: House – sell and split. Cottage – his. I’ll never go there again. Car – mine. He can buy himself a new one. Bank accounts – split. Oliver came home late, saw the list on the table. “What’s this?” “Divorce.” “Have you lost your mind?” “No. For once, I’ve come to my senses.” “Helen, I explained! She’s just a fling. It’ll pass!” “And if it doesn’t? Another thirty years waiting for you to ‘grow out of it’?” Oliver slumped on the sofa, buried his face in his hands. “I never meant to hurt you.” “But you did.” “What am I supposed to do now?” “Choose,” Helen said simply. “Family, or Alyssa. There’s no third option.” Three months they lived as actual housemates. Oliver moved into the guest room. Only spoke when necessary. Helen signed up for English classes, went swimming, made time for books she’d always put off. Alyssa called sometimes, tearful. Oliver stepped onto the balcony, tried to reassure her in hushed tones. One evening he came home early. Sat across from Helen. “I’ve broken it off.” “Why do I need to know?” “Helen, I get it now. I was an idiot. I made a terrible mistake.” “I agree.” “Can we try again? I’ve changed.” Helen set aside her book. “Oliver, you broke it off not because you realised my worth. But because she bored you. The next ‘Alyssa’ will pop up in a year or two.” “She won’t!” “Oh, she will. Because you didn’t lose me – what you lost is your youth. And I can’t help you with that.” “Helen.” “The divorce papers are ready. Sign them.” He did. No drama, no fighting over property. Helen took only what she’d planned. Six months later, Helen met Roman – her age, a widower, an English teacher. They met at a course. He invited her to the theatre. “You know, Helen,” he said over coffee after the play, “I enjoy talking to you. You’re interesting.” “Really? My ex-husband thought I was boring.” “Then he just didn’t know how to listen.” Roman listened. He valued her thoughts, laughed at her jokes, shared himself – without trying to act young. “What do you find attractive in women?” Helen asked one day. “Intelligence. Kindness. Sincerity. And you, in men?” “Honesty. And I like those who aren’t afraid of their age.” They laughed together. Oliver called occasionally. Holiday greetings, asking after her health. Like old friends. “Are you happy?” he asked once. “Yes,” Helen answered without hesitation. “And you?” “I don’t know. Probably not.” “Well, we all make our choices.” The five-hundred-pound ring she still keeps. Doesn’t wear – it stays in a jewellery box. A reminder of how thirty years can be devalued so quickly. Roman gave her a vintage brooch for her birthday – found at a flea market, not expensive, but chosen with love. “Beauty isn’t about price,” he said. “It’s about the feeling behind the gift.” And Helen understood – life after fifty doesn’t end. It only begins again. What do you think? Is it possible to start over from scratch later in life? Share your thoughts below.

02

Every Tuesday Liana hurried through the London Underground, clutching an empty plastic carrier bag in her hand—a symbol of today’s failure: two fruitless hours of wandering Westfield, not a single good gift idea for her goddaughter, her friend’s daughter. Ten-year-old Maisie was well over ponies and into astronomy now, but finding a decent telescope on a teacher’s budget was a mission fit for NASA. Evening was drawing in, and the particular weariness of the underground at the end of day hung in the air. Skipping past those exiting, Liana squeezed onto the escalator. That’s when her usually distracted mind caught a sharply emotional snippet above the crowd’s din. “— Honestly, I never thought I’d see him again,” came a young, slightly shaky voice behind her. “But now, every Tuesday, he picks her up from school himself. Drives over, and they go to that park with the old carousel…” Liana paused on the moving escalator, glancing back just for a moment to see a sparkly-eyed woman in a bright red coat—animated, excited, being listened to by her friend. “Every Tuesday.” She’d had a day like that once. Three years ago. Not the dreaded Monday, not Friday with its promise of the weekend—Tuesday. A day the whole world seemed to spin around. Every Tuesday, precisely at five, she would dash out from the English department and race across town to the Purcell School of Music, housed in a creaky Victorian manor. She’d pick up Mark, her seven-year-old nephew with the serious face and violin nearly as tall as him—not her child, but her brother Anton’s, who’d died in a terrible car accident three years before. Those early Tuesdays had been rituals for survival. Mark, silent and withdrawn. His mother Olga, shattered and barely out of bed. And for Liana—the anchor, piecing their lives together one Tuesday at a time. She remembered every detail: Mark leaving class, head down, not looking anywhere; she’d take the heavy violin case from him, he’d hand it over silently. They’d walk to the Tube, and she’d tell him goofy stories—about a spelling mistake, or the seagull that stole a sausage roll from a student. One rainy November Tuesday, Mark asked suddenly, “Auntie Li, did my dad hate rain too?” The ache and tenderness nearly toppled her, but she answered, “Hated it. Always dashed for cover.” Mark gripped her hand firmly then, as if grasping not at her, but at the memory of his dad—the reality of it, right here in the wet London air. For three years, her life split into Before and After. And Tuesdays were the heartbeat of it—the real, hard, wonderful day. The rest just background. She’d prepare for it: buy Mark’s favourite apple juice, queue up silly cartoons on her phone, rehearse conversation starters. But time ticks forward. Olga slowly healed, found work, even found love again. She chose a new start in a city by the sea. Liana helped them pack, sent Mark off with a hug, his violin in a soft new case. “Text me, OK? I’m always here.” At first, every Tuesday at six on the dot, Mark would call. Fifteen minutes to check in—school, violin, new friends. His voice, a thin silver thread across the miles. Then, calls slipped to once a fortnight. “Sorry Aunty, forgot last Tuesday, had a maths test,” he’d message, and she’d reply gently: “Don’t worry, love. How was the test?” Tuesdays became a window of expectation, maybe a message, maybe not. Sometimes she wrote first. Then just birthdays, Christmas. His voice deeper now. “All fine. Doing well. Learning lots.” His stepfather, Steve, was a good sort—never tried to replace Anton, just there, solid. That had mattered most. There was even a baby sister now, Alice, and in the photos Mark held her awkwardly but tenderly. Life—tough and generous all at once—kept moving on, layering over the old pain with nursery runs, homework, and plans for tomorrow. Liana’s role, “the aunt from the past,” quietly shrank, though never quite vanished. And now, amidst the anonymous roar of the Tube, this stray phrase—“every Tuesday”—didn’t sting but echoed softly, a greeting from that old version of herself. The Liana who had, for three years, carried immense responsibility and love, as agony and as blessing; who’d been the lighthouse, the safe place, the one needed most by a little boy on a Tuesday. She remembered. The woman in red had her own drama, her own matrix of pain and compromise. Yet that rhythm—“every Tuesday”—was a universal language: “I’m here. You matter. This moment is just for you.” A language Liana once spoke fluently, now almost lost. The train jerked into motion. Liana stood tall, gazing at her reflection in the sooty window. At her stop, she stepped out into the brisk, lamp-lit street, already planning to order two matching telescopes—affordable, but good. One for Maisie. One for Mark, posted to Brighton. As soon as it arrived, she’d text: “Markie, so we can look at the same stars no matter where we are. Next Tuesday, 6 p.m., if it’s clear, shall we both find the Big Dipper? Let’s compare notes. Love, Auntie Liana.” She rode the escalator up into the chilly night, heart lighter. Next Tuesday no longer lay empty—it had been claimed. Not as a duty, but as a quiet contract: a moment set aside for wonder, for memory that warms instead of hurting, for love that travels calmly across the miles, and grows stronger for it. Life carried on. And in her calendar, there still remained days that were not just survived, but chosen. Chosen for the small miracle of syncing stargazing across the cities. For memories that heal. For a bond that quietly, stubbornly, endures.

05

📌 Useful Social Services & Contacts in the U.S.

Stay informed and get help when you need it. Below are key national services with direct contacts that may support you or your loved ones:
🏥 Health & Mental Support

SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

What they do: Free and confidential help with substance use and mental health disorders.

Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – 24/7, anonymous support

Website: samhsa.gov

🧒 Support for Children & Families

WIC – Women, Infants, and Children Program

What they do: Nutritional and healthcare support for pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.

Federal Info Line: 1-800-522-5006

Find local WIC office: fns.usda.gov/wic

What About the Flat? You Promised Me! You’re Ruining My Life!